Read John 11:17-44
'Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”' John 11:25-26
Have you ever asked the question on Martha’s lips in this chapter. ‘God I know you can act, but if you can, why aren’t you?’
Perhaps you can’t see how good can come from grief, perhaps the pain is close and overwhelming. See Jesus’ response:
- He is moved by compassion. Jesus cares and he draws close. At the tomb of his friend he weeps. He doesn’t turn his back or keep his distance, or say toughen up. He mourns and with his untainted emotions we know he fully feels the anguish that comes with loss.
- He has power over death. Jesus doesn’t give false hope. He does not deal in empty platitudes. When he tells Martha her brother will rise again he is not appealing to someone else. He says it as the author and redeemer of life. He says it as the only one with redemptive power. Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Jesus speaks ‘Lazarus come out’ (vs43) and Lazarus, the one who was dead beyond a shadow of a doubt, walked out of the grave.
Jesus’ own prayer to his father ‘that they might believe who sent me’.
Have you ever wondered what was going through Jesus’ mind as you read the gospels? What he thought as he debated with pharisees or shepherded his disciples. When Jesus asked for the stone to be rolled away, there can be little doubt as to what Jesus was thinking. In just a short while his body would be placed in a tomb and a stone rolled in front of it. Just like with Lazarus the grave could not hold Jesus. The tomb would be opened and the conquerer of sin and death would walk out, having made the way for all to have eternal life with God. Jesus faced death full of emotion, and full of confidence. He is the resurrection and the life.
Mitch
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